NEW YORK – It’s been a whirlwind first 5 days within the Majors for Richard Fitts.
Final Saturday afternoon, Triple-A Worcester supervisor Chad Tracy advised the right-hander that as an alternative of beginning for the WooSox on Sunday, he wanted to get to Boston to be obtainable in case the Crimson Sox wanted him to take the mound for them, as an alternative. Certainly, on Sunday afternoon, Fitts turned a Main Leaguer.
5 days later, he walked into Yankee Stadium for the primary time.
That is in regards to the polar reverse of how Fitts, 24, thought he’d get to the Bronx. This time final season, he was wrapping up a standout season for the Yankees’ Double-A workforce in Somerset, New Jersey.
A 12 months later, he’s a Crimson Sox big-leaguer and the ballpark he hoped to name residence sometime is enemy territory. However for the smiley right-hander, there aren’t any arduous emotions; he’s simply thrilled to be part of all of it.
“I’m simply comfortable to be within the stadium, it’s my first time,” he advised the Herald on Thursday afternoon. “Took a deep breath after I walked out (to the sector). It was actually cool simply to see it, as a result of that is the place I did dream of enjoying, and it’s nonetheless a spot that I dream of enjoying, simply because it’s the huge leagues.”
Becoming a member of baseball’s best rivalry isn’t one thing Fitts takes frivolously.
“So far as baseball goes, I don’t suppose there’s something that goes as arduous as Yankees versus Crimson Sox,” he stated. “As quickly as I received drafted, I used to be simply so grateful for the Yankees for giving me that chance, and I’m right here due to what the Yankees had been in a position to give to me. And I can’t be extra grateful for what the Crimson Sox are doing for me, too, permitting me to debut.”
Fitts will virtually definitely face his former group in some unspecified time in the future throughout this four-game sequence. He received the decision final weekend as a result of the Crimson Sox pushed Brayan Bello’s scheduled begin from Sunday to Monday as a way to give Tanner Houck extra relaxation. Houck is at present scheduled to start out Friday evening in opposition to the Yankees. As of 5 p.m. Thursday, that was nonetheless the plan.
“As of now, sure,” stated supervisor Alex Cora. “He’s gonna get some therapy, all that, however he must be pitching tomorrow.”
Nonetheless, if Houck isn’t prepared, the Crimson Sox will once more flip to Fitts. In any other case, the rookie will get some work out of the bullpen. There’s a superb probability he’ll face Alex Verdugo, the commerce counterpart he’s by no means met.
“That’d be actually cool,” Fitts stated. “That’s what baseball is all about, the brotherhood and likewise rivalries. That’s precisely what that is, Yankees versus Crimson Sox, and that’s one thing that we love. The followers get into it and we get into it.”
For many of the lengthy weekend, Fitts will probably be watching from the sidelines. Even that, he describes as “a reasonably cool feeling.” However he’s significantly excited for Saturday, when Gerrit Cole is scheduled to start out. Fitts’ new teammate, Rafael Devers, has eight profession residence runs off Cole, 5 greater than every other pitcher he’s ever confronted, and 16 profession homers at Yankee Stadium, his most in any highway ballpark.
“I’m pumped up. I’ve solely ever seen it on TV, and I really like watching it,” Fitts stated. “But it surely offers me PTSD from a few of the guys that I’ve confronted up to now, the place I simply can’t get ‘em out.”
Typically, life takes a pointy flip in an sudden path. However Fitts is simply thrilled to be on this journey.
“This workforce’s particular. Simply to have everyone all-in proper now, it’s actually cool,” he stated. “I’m right here to do no matter they want me to do. If they need me to be on the bench and simply cheer the fellows on, I’ll do it 110%. If they need me to start out, I’ll do it. If I’m out of the ‘pen, I’ll do it. I don’t know if it’s one of the best concept, however I might – I hit in highschool!
“I’m gonna welcome any journey that I’m going on. Something I can do for them, I’m prepared to do. Even when meaning being booed by the Yankees followers.”
Recreation (seemingly) over for Hendriks
Liam Hendriks’ rehab task has been on pause resulting from forearm soreness, and the pause might flip into a tough cease.
“He had the MRI, nothing structural,” Cora stated.
Whereas the Crimson Sox are ready for the physician who carried out Hendriks’ August 2023 Tommy John surgical procedure to assessment the take a look at outcomes earlier than they make a last choice, Cora readily admitted, “most likely we’re gonna shut him down.”
The Crimson Sox signed Hendriks to a two-year contract early in spring coaching figuring out that he’d miss most, if not all of this season. Nonetheless, with Chris Martin and Kenley Jansen each set without spending a dime company this offseason, Hendriks might be essential to the Boston bullpen subsequent 12 months.
“We are able to discuss it after we’re accomplished this 12 months,” Cora stated. “However yeah, it’s good to have him. It’s vital. … He needed to be right here. He had choices. And naturally, signing him for 2 years was a superb transfer by the entrance workplace.”
Extra Crimson Sox harm updates
Lower than an hour earlier than first pitch on Thursday evening, Rob Refsnyder was a late scratch from Thursday’s lineup resulting from “proper wrist discomfort.”
Lucas Sims and Luis García have each thrown bullpens this week, however there’s no plan for both reliever to start a rehab task but.
